Lessons from the Lilacs

It’s the glorious month of May in the glorious State of Indiana. 

2018

What a wonderful time to be alive. 

May has always and forever been one of my two favorite months. 

May and October, October and May. 

Utter deliciousness. 

Polar opposites. 

My love of this fabulous weather and greenery makes a good argument to leave these parts for more temperate lands...but alas, a Midwest girl is what I am. 

It takes gumption and moxie to live here, and dadgumit, I like it. 

In May, every thing is fresh and new, nothing’s been ravaged from the heat and bugs. 

In October, every thing is nearly gone, kissed by frost's kiss of death. 

Usually by this time of the month, I’m standing on street corners begging for money, so I can go get my next fix at the garden center. This year, I’ve only been twice. 

I look around at the work that I need to do, and as usual, it’s overwhelming to me...especially working 24/7 slinging marshmallows. 

But. 

This year something happened. 

The lilacs bloomed as they do every year, albeit what seemed a bit late because of our unseasonably cool temps. I reveled in them as usual, exclaiming to anyone in earshot how I did believe it to be the most wonderful time of the year. 

And then my analytical, 'let’s think about some morbid things' brain kicked in...and I did the math for the best case scenario of how many more times I’ll witness these blooms bursting. 

You guys. 

If that doesn’t sober ya up, I’m not sure what will. 

I’m thinking best case scenario, I’ve got maybe 25 more times to witness this wonder of May.

I had to have a come to Jesus meeting. I’ve been working, to my detriment, like a fool, for three solid years. I feel like I’ve aged 20 years. I don’t laugh that much anymore. I don’t find the joy in homemaking anymore. I seriously barely recognized myself. 

I took a day off. I went to the garden center, and I went and bought four young hens. 

I took out my calendar, and erased nearly half the markets that I’d planned on doing. 

It’s still going to take a little doing, but I’m aiming to work only four days a week. 

I know it’s been said ad nauseum, how fast life goes by, etc, but seriously...I’ve watched the lilac bushes bloom here 30 times this year...and I’d be sore pressed to believe I’ve got another 30 times. 

20 Blooms later.

I pray so hard that I’ll remember this lesson of the lilacs this year. 

The photos dispersed about in here are from my yard!  Do you even recognize it?  I keep telling myself it’s got good bones...and I’m doing my best to get some things done when I can, and be grateful for what I do have...but some days I’m just mad as a hornet that I don’t have the time!

I’ve so much catching up to do!